Best roast in town

But before i get to my latest cooking antics, please see below for the cutest new kid on the block, Luca. Daniel and Romina are settling into parenthood VERY well indeed i think, despite suffering from "He's so smart. No really, he's seriously smart, and I'm not just saying that." syndrome. (It's OK. I forgive you, and I'll never get sick of hearing it. Truly. O_O)








Secondly, a new ritual - Saturday morning pancakes on the balcony. I like it.

But, onto the roast. I am not a roast-cooker, mainly because its a lot of food for two people to eat, and also a lot of carbs, and also i can't be bothered. But my good friend Turnsie recently got it in his head that he wanted to cook one, because he never had before. And when he gets an idea, let me tell you, he will not let it go until its carried out.

The conversation went something like this:

Turns: "You ever cooked a roast?"
Me: "Nah man."

Turns: "Let's do it man!"
Me: "Bah, OK. When?"

And lo, a Sunday afternoon roast was born. We trundled over to Turnsies place and immediately went shopping. After spending at least 15 minutes arguing about what KIND of roast we wanted to make (pork? beef? lamb?), we finally settled on the pig and moved on. The vegetables caused more problems. For a start, I picked up a sweet potato and was concerned when Turnsie didn't know what it was. Then i had to battle Jo for the beans. "Well what greens do you want?" i asked. "Broccoli." he replied promptly. "Broccoli!" cried Turnsie in outrage, "You can't have broccoli and roast!" Etc etc. (The beans won in the end, to my relief. You really can't have broccoli and roast.)

We made it out of there without killing each other, and then it was on to phase 2 - preparation. This was my favourite part of the day, because it meant i could be bossy, and i do love being bossy. As i detest peeling vegetables, i happily delegated this job to Turnsie. I'm sure, despite his weary sighs, that he really and truly enjoyed this very important job. No really. He enjoyed it. I helped too. Like, I unwrapped stuff. And oversaw DTs work. Oh and I put everything in the baking dish! All equally tedious and tiresome tasks. (What? They are.) Also, i will just say this about Turnsie's pantry - it is a scary, scary place. Salt that expired in 2004? Half used bottles of unidentifiable stuff that's leaked and soaked through the label to the point that you can't read what it once was? I was frightened to put my hands too far in. Anyway - i present to you....

Our roast, pre-cooked.

Have a go at that! Our ready-to-eat-roast, and it was SO good!

Jo eating his yummy meal, which he did not lift a finger to help make.

Turnsie and I enjoying the fruits of our labour

And that wasn't the end of our feasting. For dessert, apple crumble using the Turner family recipe. We did have a small problem with the oven which may or may not have been my fault (I admit, i shouldn't have experimented with all the knobs, OK? I'm sorry. Sheesh.), so that the first attempt at baking the crumble resulted in a blackened outer crust that i refused to eat. Not deterred, we scraped that off and tried again, and round two turned out just fine.

Our crumble with ice cream

Me enjoying the crumble

Turnsie doing the cleaning up - onya turns, love the pink gloves. Very razzle dazzle.

So thumbs up for roasting, but thumbs down for being sick - Jo and I have spend most of the week coughing and sneezing, and last weekend was spent almost entirely on the couch doing nothing, but I'm happy to report we're on the mend now. We've had a very busy weekend which I'll tell you all about during the week because Relocation Relocation is on and i really must watch. Before i go, join me in a cheer - Boo for Mondays! BOOOOOOOOO!

A houseguest, part two

Last week we had another visitor - Jo's cousin Christina. She's going to be one of my bridesmaids, and she very kindly came up to Sydney from Adelaide for a few days for dress fittings! Yvonne also had hers that same week, and my dressmaker pinned all of the fabric together so we would have a better idea of what they would look like - i am VERY excited, i really love the colour and it suits all of the girls. They're going to look beautiful!




We spend Friday getting the dress fittings over and done with, and catching up over coffee and pastries at my favourite Italian Pasticceria in Five Dock. And found time to get our nails done in between, since we were going out on the town that night.




Since it was David's birthday that weekend, we all went out to dinner later at A Tavola, a restaurant we all love, especially the birthday boy. Not that he actually tries anything new off the menu - he orders the same dish every time, and refuses to be talked into trying anything else. "Why mess with a good thing," is his opinion on the matter, and i have to admit the dish in question, the pasta ragu, is awesome. So. There you have it. Drinks followed at the Victoria Rooms across the street later, another of my favourite Sydney haunts, and Christina and I wasted no time polishing off a bottle of champagne, as you do. (What? We all know how i feel about the stuff. Mmmm, love.) Yvonne joined us later, and a big group of us ended up at another bar watching the Brazil vs Portugal match (not that i remember much of the game, truth be told. I admit, we made the fatal and amateur mistake of mixing our drinks, which can only ever end badly. She made me do it *points to Christina*) Somehow we managed to get home and into bed, and Saturday was spent recovering on the couch.





Food eventually beckoned though, and we headed into the rocks and to the Lowenbrau for huge and delicious German meals, just what we needed. Our friend Annie was in town too, and since it was recently her birthday, we went to have some celebratory drinks with her too, not that i could stomach much but beer, and even that was a struggle. Even though we'd just eaten, Nina managed to have two more meals before the night was out, pizza AND McDonald's. Which means i have a food rival - i didn't think anyone else was capable of eating that much but me ;)




Sunday saw us back in town on a big walk down past the wharfs, through the rocks and on the ferry across to Manly for a late lunch.

Nina and me with the harbour bridge

Jo and Nina

On the ferry



Purrrty nails




Nina and I at Manly - don't be deceived by our happy looks. It was freaking cold.

On the ferry

Jo took some really nice pictures on the ferry ride home - here's a sample!

Afterwards we went to see Maria and Jack, since they were off to Italy the very next day and i knew I'd miss my baby so i wanted to say goodbye. Pest he may be, but he was at his hilarious best that night. Somehow over the course of the evening, Jo ended up in a chair he deemed was his. "Get off my chair Jo," he demanded, which Jo of course refused to do. "Did you buy this chair?" asked Jo. "Yes," replied Jack without hesitation. "How much did you pay for it?" countered Jo. Jack considered for a moment. "Two hundred and fifty dollars," he replied finally, and we couldn't help but burst out laughing.

After witnessing a bath time tantrum of epic proportions ("JUST ONE MORE MINUTE!!!! ONE MORE MINUTE!!!!!!!!!!! *insert hysterical wailing here*) and being told lovingly that i looked like his toy monkey, it was time to go. Many hugs and kisses and I Love You's later, we were out the door and back home. I miss him already, and its only been a week! We had to work the next day unfortunately, but we got home in time to take Christina to the airport and say more goodbyes. It was a great weekend, and i am so appreciative that she and Yvonne both made time to come to Sydney and get fittings done - we truly have wonderful friends and family.

Salami-making for idiots

Step 1) Hygiene matters. Remove all animals from the premises. (Cooper, this means you.)








Step 2) Get yourself a few tonnes of pork.










Step 3) Pig intestines. Clean them.









Step 4) Stuff pork into salami-making machine. Turn handle. Watch salami grow. Marvel at all the rude things you could compare this to.

Step 5) No matter how hungry you are, resist eating raw pork. Go inside and get a biscuit.

Step 6) To avoid air pockets, a tight grip is recommended. See below.

Step 7) Tie the ends with twine and throw in bucket. Hang somewhere cool. You'll know they're ready when the place stinks beyond recognition.

Congratulations. You are now the proud owner of a brand new salami.

A houseguest

As you know, Jo's brother Matthew came to stay for a week not long ago to help celebrate Jo's 25th birthday. Jo is used to us Italians by now (dare i say it - he is practically one of us sometimes, particularly when there's a plate of pasta to be had), but i was curious to see how Matthew would go. Obviously it was hilarious for me and Jo to watch the interaction (especially with my old man), but credit where credit is due - he was very relaxed about the whole thing. He ate and drank with the rest of us and generally did just fine with the whole situation. It deserves a big well done!




On Jo's birthday, we headed out to my parents for a BBQ and some birthday cake (not for Jo's sake of course, but because Jack loves to sing happy birthday and blow out candles. Naturally he's not fussed about whose birthday it actually is, as long as those requirements are met.)

Jo and Jack cut the cake

All eyes focused on one thing and one thing only...




Jo, Matthew and Dad. Why Dad looks like a deer in headlights i do not know.

On Saturday, I met Faatasi in Surry Hills for brunch at the Book Kitchen, an old favourite, where the date and fig pikelets with vanilla ricotta and poached pear never fail to please. What i love about Faats is that like me, he knows no bounds when it comes to food. Can't decide what you want? Feel like trying a few things? No problem, we'll order it all and damn the consequences! A man who knows the way to my heart. Stomach. Heart. Whatever.

We walked back into the city afterwards, and i went down to Circular Quay to meet the boys. We proceeded to shop till we dropped, and then headed home for birthday celebration number 2 - the annual 'Jo's Birthday Bowl Off', which we've been enjoying for about 4 years now. Leah and Chris were missing from our little group this year, being that they're 'living abroad' and all, but it was still a rowdy group of 9 or 10 of us that made the trek down the road to the local pub for dinner, and then onto disco bowling. Note the word disco. Such classics as Madonna's 'Like a Prayer' and Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' made the rounds - two of Matthews most hated artists from his most hated era, mind you, so we enjoyed singing at the top of our lungs to ensure his maximum enjoyment.

David set out from the beginning to take the glory that evening, but in the end, it all came down to the two brothers, fighting for the crown and their honour. Alas, there could only be one winner and that was Matthew, in true big brother form. The funny thing was that Jo got such a high score, his best ever i think, and Matthew STILL beat him! It's psychological, i tell you.

Jo and The Argiro

Daniel, me and Matthew

Me and Jo (David is a fan of the artistic side shot)

Sunday saw us back at my parents for some pasta and vino, in true Italian style, and Matthew even tried my mother's POTENT Italian homemade liqueurs. I was so shocked by this that i had to take a photo, below, as proof for everyone back in New Zealand. I mean that stuff is STRONG, for reals. Not even i can drink it. In fact i flat out refuse to. My Dad looking on with pride as Jo knocked it back like it was a shot of milk (please picture me rolling my eyes.)

Jo having a romp with Cooper

Monday was a lazy day at home, and then Tuesday it was back to work for Jo, so i took Matthew on a little walking tour of all my favourite places in Sydney. We started through Hyde Park, saw the Cathedral, all the old buildings along Macquarie St, through the botanical gardens, around the point to the Opera House, right around Circular Quay to The Rocks, and then back up George St and more shopping. Some would say it was torturous of me to put him through 5 or 6 hours straight of walking, but i call it tough love. You'd never see anything hanging around at home on the couch, which by the way, you can do anywhere. Anyway, it was a beeeeeautiful Sydney winter day! I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted to spend it watching TV...

Local wildlife. I hate these birds with a passion.

Our lovely harbour

Some more Sydney icons

Botanical Gardens, and the tower in the background

Throw in a few world cup matches and dinners out, and before you knew it, the week was over! Time to say goodbye and see you soon we hope, and back to our normal lives, which mainly include work and more work. It's too bad. I love having an excuse to have a day off.

Its lucky for me, then, that i have just that excuse coming up this week - Yvonne is in town on Wednesday, so we're off to do some wedding stuff like dress fittings and seeing the florist and finding shoes, amongst other adventures, and then Jo's cousin Christina is here for 4 days from Friday, so that'll be more dress fittings and general fun times.

Which proves there really is no rest for the wicked.

I'm baaaaaaack (suckers)

I know, it's been ages. Its not you, its me. I've just been too busy to spend time with you. I'm sorry. I did miss you. No really, i did. Can you ever forgive me?




But moving on. So the Internet was re-connected last Friday, awesome, but I've been too busy to post anything because we've had an international guest to entertain! Jo's brother Matthew has been staying with us for the last week, and we've been busy busy doing all manner of fun things (without you). More on that as the regular posts keep-a-comin'.




While i was 'offline' (*snigger*), we had a little par-tay to celebrate the June birthday boys - Jo, DT and Ash. Even though we'd literally just finished moving in and getting tidy, we thought aw hell, lets just have a party and dirty it all up again.

New living room in party mode - note: wine, coke and chip bowls are not normally present for regular television viewing.

It was quite the crazy night, and even thought some of us spent the whole next day in bed (not naming names Jo) while some of us spent the whole next day cleaning, i think a good time was had by all, and that's the main thing.

Me, Jo and DT looking like some sort of small-town serial killer

The birthday boys (why yes, Jo is wearing a wig that makes him look like a Backstreet Boy)

Me, Ash, and Jo (perfecting aforementioned small-town serial killer look)

We've also been into town to check out some of the Vivid Sydney lights. For the last 2 or 3 years, Sydney has held this cool event where they use various light installations and projections to light up a ton of buildings across the city, like the Opera House (see below), the Cathedral, the State Library and NSW Parliament....some of the older buildings look really great, and i just like the pretty lights. Its on for the next month or two, if you have time to check it out. Macquarie St is particularly good.

And then, of course, there's the World Cup. I'm one of those bandwagon people that get right behind soccer when the World Cup is on, and then forget all about it when its not. But I've been enjoying all the games and the general excitement over the whole thing, even if Australia did get completely annihilated by Germany (4-0 if you missed it. Yeah. That's a 4.) Badly as they played, i am willing to forgive and forget if they win against Ghana and Serbia and make it through to the next round. HOW they can possibly pull themselves back together after that shocker i don't know. And i don't care. Just make it happen Verbeek.

Great game last night by the Kiwi's against Slovakia though, i was so happy to see them score in the dying seconds of the game! That last 2 minutes was intense! 1-1, but a draw is better than a loss, and no one expected them to score at all. However, can someone please explain to me what the deal is with those stupid hooters everyone keeps blowing at the games? It sounds like a swarm of bees descending on the stadiums. I mean is anyone taking a breath at all? Those things are SO annoying. Who is the person responsible for these horrible 'instruments'? I want a face that i can throw an egg at.

We visited the FIFA fan fest down at Darling Harbour a couple of nights ago. Apparently it's one of only 7 FIFA approved places to watch the games in the world or something, other than sites in South Africa of course. I liked the soccer ball lights the best!

Fan fest at Darling Harbour



Jo and Matthew checking out 3D TVs. Those goggles are sweet as.

Lastly, another riveting edition of Nell's Book Club. The last book i read was called The Girls, by Lori Lansens, and it was excellent. Its about sisters Rose and Ruby Darlen, who aren't like everyone else, because they're joined at the head. They are 29 year old, and are about to become the oldest surviving craniopagus twins in history. There has never been a possibility of them being separated. Despite being twins, and despite being joined at the head, the girls have very different personalities, and they are narrating their story for you, the reader, to know what their life has been like. Its fiction, and yet completely believable. You really grow to love these two - honestly, i couldn't stop reading. And the writing is really beautiful - authentic and heartfelt and almost like poetry in some parts. Give it a go peeps.

More of Matthew's visit coming up soon!

Gah. I'm still here.

We have no Internet at home yet, so I'm writing a quick update from my parents place. I feel as though all I've done in the past two weeks is MOVE. We're pretty much settled in now though, with foxtel safely installed (as Jo said - 'What's the point of having a TV without foxtel?' Elitist, but true, if only for the Lifestyle channel, which i love.) Hopefully the Internet will be back soon too, next week, fingers crossed.



Since we've been busy little moving bees, we really haven't done all that much else, which has actually been refreshing. I've powered through so many good books - I'm going to tell you about two crackers in particular though.




Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin, is the set post-war, in the 50s. It starts off in a small Irish town, where we are introduced to our heroine, Eilis. Like many, she can't find decent work in her small town, the only place she knows. When the offer of a job comes up in America, a million miles away, she knows she has to go. She sets sail for Brooklyn, New York City, and she slowly starts to build a new life. But tragedy strikes back home, and she is forced to return and make some tough decisions. This is a quiet, understated, but beautifully written book, which i really enjoyed. It had an old fashioned quality to it, and even though there's this undercurrent of sadness the whole way through, i was pretty well hooked to the end. I think i read it in like, 4 days.




The second book will appeal to more people i think. Its called One Day, by David Nicholls. I loved this book so much i don't even know where to begin. With the premise, i suppose, which is this: a boy and a girl share a moment, one day, at the end of their time at university. Each chapter of the book follows where they are on the same day, every year, for twenty years. Do they still know each other? Are they friends? Will they ever be anything more? You are seriously rooting for them from the beginning, and i couldn't wait to see, with each passing chapter, where they'd be the next year, and the next. It was such an emotional book, funny and sad, and the great thing is that so much of it leaves you guessing - you're never quite sure what happened from one year to the next, except for the hints you get through the chapters. There were some moments where i was actually holding my breath, thinking ah! Are they about to get together? Is it about to happen? And then no, and you're racing through to the next chapter, the next year, to see if they've figured it out yet. The ending - GAH. I won't say more. But GAH! Seriously. And don't bother skipping ahead - the last few pages won't give away a single thing. Anyway. READ THIS BOOK! It's such an easy read, and so worth it.




OK, that's my book club over for now. I've sort of run out of stuff to read at the moment, so I'm re-reading Eat, Pray, Love, cause i really did enjoy it the first time around.




Wedding news - not much, except that we've booked out honeymoon! We're going to Tahiti for 10 nights, 8 of which are in an over-water bungalow, thank you very much - so romantic, and perfect for relaxing after the wedding is all over. Plus 5 nights in New Zealand, the North Island, because we haven't seen all that much of it. We'll have a night in Auckland, then 2 nights in the Bay of Islands and 2 nights on the Coromandel Peninsula. Cannot wait. We've also all but locked in the video peeps. And we get some concepts back this coming Thursday for our invitations - did i tell you, we've decided on a great little up and coming business called Zed and Bee to do them for us. Its run by two very creative ladies who i think will really try and capture our personalities in the stationary we have. They seemed very enthusiastic at our meeting with them, and we've given them a whole heap of information about 'us', so i think they'll do something lovely and personal, and fun too.




June is going to be the busiest month, starting from tomorrow - we are babysitting Jack most of the day, so we'll see how that goes, especially in this rainy weather. Tomorrow night, a party at our place to celebrate not just Jo's birthday, but DT and Ash's as well. Then we have Jo's brother coming to stay next week for a week, more birthday celebrations for Jo, Yvonne back in Sydney for a wedding marathon - dress fittings for both of us, shoe shopping, consulting with the florist, and debating the age-old question - to veil or not to veil? We end the month with Jo's cousin Christina coming to stay, for her dress fittings too. Maria and I have to find time between all that to go see Sex and the City 2 - hopefully next weekend - and then before you know it she is OFF to Italy for 5 weeks, and i shall miss her, and the pest. (5 weeks! JEALOUS MUCH?)




I'd better go, before i fall off my chair just thinking about all this. Thank God for my day planner.